Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has written a letter to the Prime Minister protesting the allocation of minimal funds by the National Highway Authority (NHA) to Sindh.
According to Express News, the CM expressed his concern in the letter, stating that it is alarming that the NHA has allocated less than 5% of its budget to Sindh. He accused the NHA of injustice in the province’s Annual Development Program (ADP).
CM Sindh pointed out that 38.65% of the budget is allocated to the 33 projects in Punjab, while only 4.34% is reserved for the six projects in Sindh. Similarly, 17.59% of funds are allocated to 30 projects in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and 23.87% to 22 projects in Balochistan.
The CM highlighted that the construction of the Hyderabad-Sukkur Expressway is crucial for the development of the country. He urged the Prime Minister to direct the NHA to start work on the Hyderabad-Sukkur M6 Expressway and include it in the ADP.
Meanwhile, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said limited resources are the city’s misfortune. The mayor inaugurated roads and other development projects in Orangi Town.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony and addressing the media, Wahab noted that if a verdict favors PTI founder Imran Khan, the judiciary is independent; if not, campaigns are launched against it.
He also commented on Muneem Zafar’s press conference against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), saying, “We will highlight the balance of justice and the role of the PPP. Mr. Zafar is expected to occasionally visit Clifton. Parks should be used for public welfare.
Murtaza Wahab stressed that PPP representatives are not involved in “China reduction” practices, adding: “It is unfortunate for this city that resources are limited. Jamaat-e-Islami opposes public-private partnership projects.
The mayor said, “We have made Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) self-sufficient. I am not like Waseem Akhtar, who complained about lack of authority. I am not afraid of Jamaat-e-Islami, even though it is a well-meaning party.
He accused the Jamaat-e-Islami of ignoring commercial activities in its governed cities and claimed that they were sabotaging road projects funded by billions of rupees. “The cities are not supporting KMC in the development of the city,” he added. Wahab also mentioned that K-Electric had provided a check for Rs200 million the day before.
Earlier, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had highlighted Karachi’s crucial role in Pakistan’s overall development, accusing the federal government of giving Sindh “stepchild treatment” and withholding its resources under various pretexts.
Speaking at the inauguration of Phase I of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Expressway, formerly Qayyumabad Expressway in Shah Faisal Malir, he said his family had been contributing to the development of Karachi for three generations.
He praised his grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the PPP. The former Prime Minister revolutionized Karachi’s infrastructure and laid the foundation for major projects including the Pakistan Steel Mill (PSM) and Shahrah-e-Faisal.
